What have we got to worry about?

[erick (Eric)]

Clouded out at present, so trawling the fora. Just saw this on CN.

"If you can't tell a skunk from a cat in the dark, be sure to shine a light on it before you take measures to scare it off."

[Jen]

meowwwww

[astroron (Ron)]

How is it Jen can see the link(if there is one ) and I can't

[Baddad (Marty)]

Link? What link? I missed somethink?

[MrB (Simon)]

There is no link.
Everything is contained in the quotation marks.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by astroron

How is it Jen can see the link(if there is one ) and I can't

There is no link
its just a warning to never scare a skunk pooooooweeeee

[marki]

I think some of you gents might have had a little too much myself. Okay we know the cat goes meow but what noise does a skunk make .

Ciao Mark

[erick (Eric)]

Yes, that's it - a funny one-liner. Sorry if I confused anyone.

It was in a DOs and DON'Ts of astronomy thread.

[astroron (Ron)]

It must be old age creeping up on me

[RB (Andrew)]

Ah finally...the missing link.......

[Ric]

Definitely an astronomical DONT in America.

Never smelt an angry Skunk but I've seen the reactions on Mythbusters.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Ric

Definitely an astronomical DONT in America.

Never smelt an angry Skunk but I've seen the reactions on Mythbusters.

yeah well after watching lots of Bugs Bunny cartoons over the years
that Pepe Le Pu seems to be a bit of a stinker

[Tannehill]

Skunks are one 'dont' for sure.

Others, from the social and political crucible that is the US right now:

1) In open-carry (firearm) states or all states for that matter, never wave the Celestron SkyScout around in the dark when the cops come to investigate the report of people hanging out suspiciously at the dark end of the state park parking lot. It (the SkyScout) looks like a handgun in poor light. Several close calls but no shots fired here yet due to this.

2) Never bring up religion or politics at a star party. Especially in states with open carry laws.

3) Never take off your warm boots and leave them out during the night of observing. Scorpions love hot sweaty boots on a cool night.
4) Never leave your vehicle doors or windows open at night in raccoon territory. Which is most states.
5) And, too-late advice to the drunk knuckleheads out there partying late in the desert with your friends in your dad’s new pickup truck. Don’t think it’ll be fun to drive up and harass the lone astronomer parked out in the far desert with $10k of gear, figuring they’re easy meat. Because, now, how do you explain the dozen or so bullet holes in your dad’s pickup truck and the soilage on all the seats? Because Arizona is…still…an open carry state!
(None of this is personal experience, but from (I think) reliable sources!)
Cheers from the US
Scott in Tucson

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hello Tannehill. I live just north of Brisbane. Last month I visited my Son and Daughter in Law at Fort Huachuca. (About an hour south of Tucson).
The military base is just next to Sierra Vista. I saw some dark skies there but had no scope.

The temperatures were a little low for me anyway. 17 to 20F or -8C.
I heard there was a little snow after I left.

My son, Andrew, and I checked out the Meteor Crater, near Flastaff, the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon. A couple of nights in Las Vegas really topped the holiday. Fished the Colarado River and bagged a couple of nice trout.

A day visit to the old time town of Tombstone was an eye opener. I saw a re-enactment of that famous shooting, "Gunfight At The OK Corral".

Arizona is a nice place to visit but I prefer where I am.

Wishing you Dark Clear skies,
Marty

[Tannehill]

Hi Marty,

Glad you enjoyed your visit. Arizona is not quite the 'median' American cultural experience, and Vegas is for SURE not! I hate Vegas and never go there unless forced to for some reason. A chancre on the desert, it is...

We have nothing to compare to Oz for dark sky and deep sky objects, but it's what we have! I miss the southern sky, but I'm glad i am back here so i can drink the bad coffee that I missed while living in Melbourne.

Someday I'll make it back for a month or two of dedicated star-gazing and flat white consumption...

Cheers

Scott

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by Tannehill

Skunks are one 'dont' for sure.

1) In open-carry (firearm) states or all states for that matter, never wave the Celestron SkyScout around in the dark when the cops come to investigate the report of people hanging out suspiciously at the dark end of the state park parking lot. It (the SkyScout) looks like a handgun in poor light. Several close calls but no shots fired here yet due to this.

Scott in Tucson

Did you mean the Meade "MySky"...I think the SkyScout looks more like a Video recorder...either way, the advice about being careful in an open carry state is still valid.

Cheers,